Give flood-hit landlords tax relief - NLA

By Simon Thompson

With large parts of the UK under water after some of the worst flooding for decades, the National Landlords Association (NLA) is calling on the government to give residential landlords with properties that have been flooded some council tax relief.

This comes on top of a promise being made by the Prime Minister David Cameron who is offering business rates relief for those businesses badly affected by floods.

Richard Lambert, the NLA's chief executive, said: “A landlord's property is their business so if flooding makes them uninhabitable then they face not only the costs of renovation and repair but the loss of income too.

“In addition, landlords in many areas may also face having to pay council tax as well because councils have dropped exemptions and discounts which used to be applicable for unoccupied property.”

Landlords will suffer from ‘Flood Re’

The timing of the floods highlight another potential problem for residential landlords who, currently, are to be excluded from the government's planned scheme called 'Flood Re' which would allow homeowners in high flood risk areas to gain access to affordable flood insurance.

The small print is still to be ironed-out but the proposals would see privately rented homes being considered as 'non-domestic' which would mean they would be excluded from the scheme altogether.

Mr Lambert added: “If this oversight is not corrected before Flood Re becomes law then landlords in areas which suffered flood damage are likely to find their business destroyed and their mortgages invalidated because they cannot get insurance cover. This will lead to repossessions, blighted communities and empty homes.”

How landlords can protect property from flood

Meanwhile, insurance firm Direct Line is telling landlords how they can protect their property from the damaging effects of flooding.

The firm says that flooding is now a real issue for landlords and homeowners alike and the situation is not going to improve in the future.

In addition to having flood insurance cover, Direct Line says there are things that landlords can do to help keep flood water out of their properties which will minimise any potential damage.

Among their tips are:
• Work with tenants to move their possessions upstairs out of harm’s way should a flood strike
• Consider fitting sockets and fuse boxes higher in those buildings in flood vulnerable areas
• Check the pointing of the building and apply sealant to exterior walls
• Fit 'non-return' valves on pipes which will prevent water backing up in a flood
• Place sandbags at the bottom of doors and low windows
• Use special covers to seal ventilation bricks

Most important of all, the firm says, is that landlords should endeavour to let their tenants know of what the risks from flooding are and what they should do when it happens.

Following on from the government’s announcement for a national mandatory HMO licensing scheme, comes news of new minimum room size requirements for HMO rental properties.The government says this will help reduce the issues of over-crowding and also deal with po